U.S. gasoline demand rises 3.9 pct -MasterCard

NEW YORK, Oct 20 - U.S. retail gasoline demand last week rose 3.9 percent from a year ago, MasterCard SpendingPulse reported on Tuesday.

"Year-over-year comparisons are up due to the 2008 financial crisis last year that depresses consumer spending, mobility and gasoline pumping," said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis at MasterCard Advisors.

Gasoline demand averaged 9.339 million barrels per day during the week ending Oct. 16, up 3.7 percent from the previous week, according to the weekly report.

The four-week moving average of U.S. gasoline consumption climbed 3.6 percent from a year earlier.

Retail prices for gasoline rose 3 cents to a national average of $2.48 a gallon, 19.7 percent below year-ago levels.

MasterCard Advisors estimates retail gasoline demand based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments system coupled with estimates for all other payment forms including cash and checks. MasterCard Advisors is a unit of MasterCard Inc <MA.N>.